The Figures are IT miniatures (link) and 20mm or 1/72nd scale. So for recreating the filmic (if not totally accurate) attack on the port of Aquaba they will very much look the part. There is a variety of different camel colours all with different saddle blankets and differently clothed Arabs. As I have only found 5 different poses of Arabs and 2 different Camel the diversity of clothing and blankets helps to give an irregular feel to the troops. Historically many of the riders would have been clad in the same colours but as a game I think it works better this way as I do not want them to look like a uniformed army. We can see that more recently in the Arab spring a couple of years ago now. Many of the people involved were wearing jeans or tracksuit trousers and yet they all look individual and not in uniform. I daresay in the future someone will wargame the Arab Spring and in doing so will arrive at the same conclusion with regard to clothing as I have for the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918. But with "Technicals" as opposed to Camels!
So other than these I have started work on a few other things for Curt's painting Challenge. On Monday I shall start on my entry for the "Vehicle" Bonus round. I have had a couple of false starts on this already and decided yesterday to go in a slightly different direction. As such I have already started five 15mm US Halftracks for PBI. These will get done soon, but seem to be taking an age to do as well as needing 3 coats (so far) of paint. I am applying them thinly so as to preserve as much surface detail as possible. I also have another unit of 10mm Samurai started and am re-basing my 10mm British colonials. There are only 10 bases of these so it will not take long, but as I am not painting anything they will not be submitted to the painting challenge.
Anyway folks have a great Sunday. I am off to the Club in a couple of hours so I should get an AAR out in the next few days. So until then stay warm, don't kick the dog and take care of yourselves. All the best Clint
I hadn't even realised that there were a limited number of poses until you mentioned it. That group looks marvellous; the subtle variations of colour and pattern are very effective!
ReplyDeleteThat was the plan, to make them look more varied than they actually are. I will need to do a couple of conversions in the next batch. One to carry a pistol and one to carry a banner. (just because Banners look cool and they were used so historically accurate).... But really because it will look cool.
DeleteHa ha, I made it to your blog on time!
ReplyDeleteI think it was a good idea to have variety in them with the different coloured blankets and clothing. They will look so much better this way.
Now, this is how far I was willing to go just to be on time. It's now 4:30 a.m. where I'm at. I'm now going to sleep. Nitey nite Clint :)
You are always on time. 4:30am..... you go to bed at that time I get up at that time. Sleep well and STAY warm!
DeleteHave fun at the club. These camel riders just look excellent all look individual when inspected closely but as a force look unified great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon. They fit with the others as well by some miracle!. More to come though and they might be the last. (at least for now!)
DeleteHi Clint,
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is this:
Sherif: You are mad. To come to Aqaba by land, you should have to cross the Nefud Desert.
Lawrence: That's right.
Sherif: The Nefud cannot be crossed.
Lawrence: I'll cross it if you will.
Sherif: You! It takes more than a compass Englishman. The Nefud is the worst place God created.
Lawrence: I can't answer for the place, only for myself. Fifty men?
Sherif: Fifty? Against Aqaba?
Lawrence: If fifty men came out of the Nefud, there would be fifty men other men might join. The Howeitat are there I hear.
Sherif: The Howeitat are brigands. They will sell themselves to anyone.
Lawrence: Good fighters, though.
Sherif: Good...yes. There are guns at Aqaba.
Lawrence: They face the sea, Sherif Ali, and cannot be turned round. From the landward side, there are no guns at Aqaba.
Sherif: With good reason. It cannot be approached from the landward side.
Lawrence: Certainly the Turks don't dream of it. (He points in the direction of Aqaba.) Aqaba is over there. It's only a matter of going.
Sherif: You are mad.
At this point you should a piece of the soundtrack somewhere in the background....;-)
Looking good so far!
All the best,
DC
Thank you David. I hope to have the next batch Tuesday next week.
DeleteAnd maybe something more valuable than rubies! (Well fingers crossed!)
They are looking good Clint and there is a good variety there too. Have you thought of mixing in Arabs from Colonial ranges?
ReplyDeleteI will keep the figures all from one range simply because I will be using the game to showcase IT Miniatures at a couple of local shows.
DeleteThank you Peter. It is literally as I write this that I am now thinking it might be a good VBCW setting. If you can point me to any VBCW background set in the Middle east I would be grateful.
Thank you for the very kind words.
ReplyDeleteYou were right to vary the colours as it distracts a lot from the limited number of available poses; another good addition to the camel force, which must be looking quite bulky now.
ReplyDelete24 camelry at the moment. Just working on 2 conversions as I type this (One Standard Bearer and one to represent Laurence! Neither is brilliant, but they will both work well enough for a game.. And will then have 10 more to do before I see if it is enough. Thank you Joe.
DeleteExcellent paintjob, I love them!
ReplyDeleteCheers Phil. I hope to blog again tomorrow. Well maybe.
Delete